JPH0132090B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Field of Industrial Application The present invention finds application in the field of packaging, particularly in the field of aseptic packaging of sterile liquid products, such as long-life milk, into cartons.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Various types of mechanical filling stations are known that automatically perform the steps of opening a carton, filling it with contents, and closing and sealing the carton. For example, US Patent No. 2841936
Examples include those described in the specification of No. 3352458 and the specification of No. 3352458.

U.S. Pat. No. 2,841,936 includes a tank having a discharge nozzle and a normally closed valve for controlling the flow of liquid through the discharge nozzle, the normally closed valve being in its open position by a solenoid; An automatic machine is described with a filling mechanism which causes the solenoid to remain in this open position as long as it is energized. The tank is equipped with a float-controlled mechanism that controls the amount of liquid entering the tank to maintain a substantially constant water level in the tank and discharge through the nozzle. Control quantity.

Another similar automatic machine is described in US Pat. No. 3,352,458. This automatic machine has a filling unit with a circular supply tank with an inlet and a pair of outlets. These pairs of outlets are spaced from each other along the length of the carton's trajectory, each outlet over the open mouth of the carton when it is stopped below the filling unit. Each outlet has an internal seat for an outlet valve and a dependent nozzle. The dependent nozzle has a cap connected thereto, for example by a bayonet-type fitting, and the cap has an outlet port adapted to pass the desired flow with as little foaming as possible. This cap can be replaced by another cap for a different flow rate or by a closed cap that prevents all flow from the outlet to the nozzle attached to it.

Each valve is closed and maintained in this closed state by electromagnetic force against the action of the float. Each float has vertically aligned upper and lower rods, each of the lower rods being connected to its valve, and each of the upper rods containing a portion that functions as the core of a valve actuation electromagnet.

The surge tank has an inlet controlled by a float valve that is horizontal to the upstream processing equipment, such as a Pasteur sterilizer or homogenizer, to help prevent foaming, and a supply tank inlet controlled by a valve. and an outlet connected to the outlet.

Whenever a carton box is below the outlet of the filling unit, the electromagnet is deenergized for outlet valve control at a time interval determined by a timing relay. Then, if there is sufficient liquid in the supply tank, the outlet valve opens and remains open until the electromagnet is reenergized or until the liquid level in the supply tank is sufficiently low. .

This known filling station has the disadvantage that, during use, there are voids or spaces that come into contact with the liquid, so that bacteria can enter the liquid.

GB 1335007 describes a metering device for filling packaging containers with liquids and pastes. The metering device has an inlet valve connected to a feed line and an outlet valve having a valve body in the form of a diaphragm connected to said inlet valve by a bellows of, for example, polytetrafluoroethylene and carrying an outlet nozzle. Contains at least one unit. The two ends of the bellows of each unit are clamped to two horizontal plates. These horizontal plates can be moved relative to each other by adjusted distances. Some device is provided for opening the inlet valve when the horizontal plates move away from each other and closing the inlet valve when the plates move together. The outlet valve is arranged to open when the horizontal plates mentioned above move together and close when the plates move away from each other. The inlet valve may include a stem extending through a duct in the wall leading to the bellows. The stem is provided with a duct with a frusto-conical valve plate at its end. This valve plate cooperates with a similarly shaped valve seat formed by the internal shoulder of the duct. The diaphragm of the outlet valve is arranged to be maintained in the closed position by compressed air introduced from below the diaphragm around the nozzle. however,
Alternatively, a prestress can be introduced in the diaphragm of the outlet valve so that when the prestress is released, it bends upwards rather than downwards. In this case, it is also possible to discontinue control using compressed air. This is because the outlet valve is always in the closed position except when the lower plate is moving upwardly. However, in this case, ie when the bellows is being compressed, the pressure of the liquid within the bellows exceeds the prestress of the diaphragm, so the outlet valve opens and allows the liquid to escape. However, such a configuration has the disadvantage that it is less reliable in operation than when compressed air control is used. The angled inlet valves described above may be replaced by valves with vertical axes. The valve may also have an aerodynamic control structure if desired.

Finally, JP-A-54-58583 describes an apparatus for aseptically filling preformed containers. In this device, containers are conveyed onto a rotary chain conveyor into a sterilization section. In the sterilization section, it is first sterilized by H ₂ O ₂ and then subjected to a hot air treatment before reaching the filling station. In the filling station the food product is introduced into the sterilized container and then in the sealing section the cover sheet is applied from its roll through a sterilization bath and a drying area to the container. However, in this literature,
There is no mention of the problem of filling with voids or voids that may allow bacteria to enter the liquid.

Problems to be Solved by the Invention As mentioned above, in the prior art as typified by U.S. Pat. No. 2,841,936 and U.S. Pat. or spaces exist, which pose a risk for bacteria to enter the liquid.

Further, in the conventional technology as typified by British Patent No. 1335007, the reliability of operation is poor.

Furthermore, in the conventional technology typified by Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 54-58583, the above-mentioned problem of contact with air carrying floating bacteria is not considered at all.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a method and a device in which there are no empty or air spaces in the vicinity of the liquid, thereby preventing bacteria from entering the liquid.

Means for Solving the Problems The present invention provides a dosing device arranged to supply a liquid product to each predetermined carton, and a pump device arranged to pressurize and continuously supply the liquid product. and an extruder for causing the pump device to communicate with the dispensing device and for varying the amount of the liquid product it accommodates depending on the difference between the flow rate of liquid product into and out of the device. and an expansion chamber, the expansion chamber having an annular bellows forming part of the wall, whereby the volume of the expansion chamber is varied according to the amount of the liquid product. The device is characterized by:

The present invention also provides a method for supplying a pressurized liquid product to an expansion chamber and applying additional pressure to the liquid present in the expansion chamber to intermittently supply the liquid product into each predetermined carton. the volume of the expansion chamber in response to the difference between the flow rate of the liquid product entering the expansion chamber and the flow rate of the liquid product exiting the expansion chamber. and maintaining a substantially constant liquid pressure in the expansion chamber while completely contacting all interior surfaces of the expansion chamber with the liquid product.

Effect According to the invention as described above, the volume portion provided to the liquid during dispensing is precisely equal to the volume of the liquid to be dispensed. The use of a bellows structure makes it possible to eliminate the presence of air spaces that come into contact with the liquid product during use of the device.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS In order to enable the invention to be easily understood and put into practice, embodiments of the invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

As shown in the plan view of Fig. 1, one end (right end) of the machine 1 for aseptic packaging is equipped with a conventional carton in which a carton with a gabled top is preformed (including a sealed bottom). There is a preform device 2. The open-topped preformed carton is advanced by a chain system in an inverted position through a closed channel 3 (upper part of FIG. 2) to the other end (left end) of the packaging machine. This closed channel 3
is surrounded by a cover 4 (FIG. 2). This cover 4 can be raised about the hinge and can be accessed into the closed channel 3. At the left end of the machine, the open-topped carton is introduced from above into a hairpin-shaped turn-around path P (FIG. 2) and is advanced vertically by a conveying chain 5. The outgoing portion of this hairpin-shaped return path P extends along the machine toward the preform device 2, and the return portion extends along the machine so as to return to the left end. The carton therefore enters the sterile room 6 directly from the closed channel 3. This sterile room completely surrounds the transport chain 5 and is provided with an access cover 6. The conveying chain 5, which is composed of a pair of chains arranged in upper and lower stages and extending into the same space, has a long lug 5' projecting outward from the path P. These lugs 5' extend beyond the guide strip extending along path P.
The carton is advanced along path P by lug 5';
One side of the carton is supported by a conveying chain 5, and the other end is supported by a guide strip.

Conveyance chain 5 first tops up the cartons.
Transport it to the braking device 7. There, the top of each carton is previously kept open. Then the carton is exposed to strong ultraviolet germicidal lamp 8
passed under. These lamps are arranged over at least a major part of the length of the outgoing path of the hairpin-like path P, in fact over a large part according to the invention. At the beginning of this germicidal lamp arrangement, means are arranged for injecting a fine spray of hydrogen peroxide (H ₂ O ₂ ) into the inside of the carton. This means is arranged in the pre-braking device 7 and includes a nozzle _{7 '} (fifth
(Figure). The synergistic effect of ultraviolet radiation and hydrogen peroxide spray on the inside of the carton results in a highly germicidal disinfectant action. Hydrogen peroxide may be omitted if the degree of sterilization required is less severe. Downstream of the sterilization zone, the conveyor chain 5 rotates the cartons through 180 degrees in a horizontal plane, folds them back into a hairpin, and places them on the return path P. On this return trip, the cartons first reach a filling device 9 where they are filled with a sterile product, such as long-life milk, and then proceed to a top heating device 10 where the thermoplastic surface at the top of each carton is heated and made sticky. The carton then advances to the top sealing device 11 where the gable top is sealed. Finally, the carton leaves the sterile chamber 6 on the left side of the machine through the outlet 6'' (Fig. 3). During operation of the machine, sterile air flows from the main sterile air filter to the sterile air inlets 13, 13' (Fig. 3) of the sterile chamber 6. In this sterile room, sterile air flows smoothly from the inlet 13 to the left end of the sterile room 6, and exits from the sterile air outlet 14.The sterile air leaves the sterile room 6 with bacteria and hydrogen peroxide. In particular, the sterile air not only prevents bacteria and hydrogen peroxide from being carried to the filling device 9, but also maintains the inside of the sterile chamber 6 at a pressure slightly higher than atmospheric pressure.
Prevents ambient air from entering the room.

Please refer to FIGS. 4 and 5. The two parts 71 and 72 of the top pre-braking device 7 are supported by a common horizontal support 73. This horizontal support 73 is itself a vertical reciprocating plunger 7
It is supported by two horizontal arms 74 fixed to 5. The two triangular flaps 76 of the part 71 can be rotated about respective horizontal parallel axes 77 by means of a vibrating crank 78. For every two advances of the stepping carton, the pre-braking device 7 descends to the two cartons below it and performs a pre-braking action, and at the same time the nozzle 7' injects the carton directly below the section 72. fart
Inject H ₂ O ₂ .

The filling device 9 is designed to prevent bacteria from entering the sterile long-life milk that is being supplied to the sterile room 6. Please refer to FIGS. 6-9.
A mounting frame 20 included in the filling device mounts four stainless steel reciprocating bellows 21, the bottom walls of which are reciprocated by a reciprocating plunger 22, and the top flanges of the reciprocating bellows are T-shaped. It is fixed to the lower branch of the union 23. The upper branch of T-union 23 includes a spring-loaded inlet check valve that is open in the direction that long-life milk flows downwardly through the branch. Curved pipe 2 to which the intermediate branch of each T union 23 is connected
4 is bent downward and the lower end is connected to the outlet nozzle 25. These outlet nozzles include spring loaded outlet check valves. The conveying chain 5 advances the carton beneath the outlet nozzle 25 and each actuates a selected number of reciprocating bellows 21 to dispense a predetermined amount of long life milk to the vertically positioned carton. The number of actuated reciprocating bellows 21 depends on the nominal capacity of the carton.
Thus, each reciprocating bellows 21 is set to dispense half a pint on each reciprocation, and a total of four reciprocating bellows 21 are actuated to fill each carton with one pint. Each reciprocating bellows 21
As the inlet check valve at its T-union 23 is closed by the spring and by the pressure of the milk, when the The reciprocating bellows 21 thereby draws in long-life milk from the expansion device 26 shown in FIGS. The outlet 27 of the expansion device 26 is connected to the upper branch of all T-unions 23. A pump (not shown) continuously pumps long life milk through inlet 28 to expansion device 26. The interior of the expansion device 26 is divided into an expansion chamber 29 and a constant pressure chamber 30 by an annular bellows 31 and a rigid, movable end cover wall 32. Since the pressure-adjusted air is supplied to the constant pressure chamber 30 through the port 33 of the end wall 34 of the expansion device 26, the constant pressure chamber 30 has a substantially constant pressure. Fluid-tight end wall 3
One end of the rod 35 passing through 4 is fixed to the end cap wall 32. The abutment flange 36 of this rod 35 limits the extent of movement of the end cap wall 32 relative to the wall 34. Pointer 37 of rod 35 moves over scale 38 to indicate the position of end cap wall 32 within expansion device 26. When using the machine,
When the instantaneous feed of the pump to the inlet 28 exceeds the amount of long-life milk drawn into the reciprocating bellows 21 via the outlet 27, the pump of FIG. The end cap wall 32 is moved to the right by the pressure of the long-life milk, and the expansion device 26 temporarily acts as a reservoir until the amount of long-life milk drawn into the reciprocating bellows 21 exceeds the amount delivered by the pump. When the amount of long-life milk drawn into the reciprocating bellows 21 exceeds the amount fed by the pump, the end cover wall 32 moves to the left in FIG. 9 due to the action of the air pressure in the constant pressure chamber 30. The filling system, at least between the pump (not shown) and the outlet check valve in the outlet nozzle 25, is always absolutely full of long-life milk and is free of bubbles and air spaces that can bring bacteria into access. It never exists. Another advantage of this filling system is that during use, all of the internal surface areas of the filling system that are in contact with long-life milk can be heated by simply passing hot liquid, chemical cleaning liquid or steam through the filling system. , it can be easily sterilized by contact with chemical cleaning solutions or steam.

Please refer to FIG. This figure shows the carton C being filled through the outlet nozzle 25. In this filling variant, the carton C is in a position inclined to the vertical and the outlet nozzle 25
The long-life milk flowing from the outlet nozzle 25 flows downward onto the inner surface of the carton C located directly below the outlet nozzle 25 at an angle with respect to the vertical. Compared to the usual arrangement where milk is poured into a vertical carton directly below the outlet nozzle, the
The arrangement of Figure 0 has the advantage of minimizing foam formation on the top of the milk. In this case carton C
move along the path P upright, except in the area of the filling device 9 where they are tilted. The carton can be moved from upright to inclined and back again in various ways, in particular by suitably designing the conveying chain 5 and/or the guide strip of the carton.

The machine 1 includes automatic control means for cleaning the interior surfaces of the sterile chamber 6. This means consists of spray nozzles 41 (secondary
(Figure). These nozzles supply cleaning fluid to the inside of the sterile chamber 6 so that the entire interior of the sterile chamber 6 receives the cleaning fluid, such as a hot cleaning solution or steam. The cleaning fluid exits through a drain (not shown).

The machine 1, in particular the sterile chamber 6 and its associated parts, such as parts 5-11, are designed in such a way that the only non-sterilized material that enters the sterile chamber 6 is a pre-formed carton.

Entrance 3' (fourth
Figure) and the exit 6″ where the filled carton exits the sterile room.
(FIGS. 3 and 4), the outside of the sterile chamber 6 can be sealed with an air curtain of high-pressure sterile air. In this way, low pressure sterile air cannot leak into the sterile chamber 6. These air curtains are formed by slotted tubes 81, 82 seen in FIGS. 4 and 3. The sterile air making up the curtain is taken from a separate sterile air filter which provides a higher pressure than the main sterile air filter for the sterile room 6.

Effects of the Invention According to the present invention described above, there are no air bubbles or air spaces mixed into the liquid to be filled, that is, long-life milk, and therefore the liquid to be filled, that is, long-life milk, is not contaminated by bacteria floating in the air. It is possible to ensure the long-term storage stability of milk packaged in a package without causing any damage.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Figure 1 is a plan view of the aseptic packaging machine, Figure 2 is a side view of this machine, Figure 3 is an end view of the machine as seen in the direction of the arrow in Figure 2, and Figure 4 is the machine of Figure 1. 5 is an end view of the top pre-braking device section of the machine; FIG. 6 is a side view of the filling device section of the machine; FIG. 7 is a partial top view of the filling device section of the machine. 8 is a partial sectional side view of the expansion device of the filling device; FIG. 9 is a partial sectional end view of the expansion device; and FIG. 10 is a partial sectional side view of the expansion device of the filling device. FIG. 1...Package filling machine, 2...Preform device, 3...Closed channel, 3'...Inlet, 4
...Cover, 5...Transportation chain, 5'...Lug,
6... Sterile room, 6''... Outlet, 7... Top pre-braking device, 7'... Nozzle, 8...
Ultraviolet germicidal lamp, 9... Filling device, 10... Top heating device, 13, 13'... Sterile air inlet, 1
4... Sterile air outlet, 20... Mounting frame, 2
1... Reciprocating bellows, 22... Reciprocating plunger,
23...T union, 24...curved pipe, 2
5... Outlet nozzle, 26... Expansion device, 27... Outlet, 28... Inlet, 29... Expansion chamber, 30... Constant pressure chamber, 31... Annular bellows, 32... End cover wall ,33...mouth,34...
...wall, 35...rod, 36...butt flange,
37...Pointer, 38...Scale, 71,72...
... portion, 73 ... support, 74 ... horizontal arm,
75... Vertical reciprocating plunger, 76... Triangular flap, 77... Horizontal parallel axis, 78... Vibrating flap, 81, 82... Slotted tube, C
...Carton, P...hairpin-shaped road.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. A dosing device 21-25 arranged to supply a liquid product to each predetermined carton, and a pump device arranged to pressurize and continuously supply the liquid product; The pump device is connected to the dosing device 2.
1-25, and an expansion chamber 29 in which the amount of the liquid product accommodated is varied depending on the difference between the flow rate of the liquid product flowing into it and the flow rate of the liquid product flowing out from it. In the apparatus including the expansion chamber 29
device, characterized in that it has an annular bellows 31 forming part of the wall, by means of which the volume of said expansion chamber 29 changes according to the amount of said liquid product. 2. In the device according to claim 1,
Pressure means 30 and 33 are provided to press the annular bellows 3.
1. A device for applying a substantially constant force to 3. In the device according to claim 2,
The pressurizing means 30, 33 are characterized in that they include a constant pressure chamber 30 and a supply port 33 for supplying pressurized fluid to the constant pressure chamber and maintaining a substantially constant pressure therein. device to do. 4. The device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that a pointer 37 is connected to one end of the annular bellows 31 to indicate its position. 5. In the device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, the annular bellows 31
connects the movable end cover wall 32 to the expansion chamber 2.
9 fixed end walls. 6. The apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5, further comprising a sterile chamber 6, a closed channel 3 for introducing the carton C into the sterile chamber 6, and both an outbound path and a return path. a conveyance chain 5 arranged to convey the cartons C along a path P provided in the sterile room 6;
sterilizers 7', 8 disposed to sterilize the inside of the carton C while the carton C is on the path P; said dosing device 21-25 arranged to supply said liquid product into said carton C while on said path P of said carton C; a sealing device 11 arranged to seal the carton C while it is on the path P, and the sterilizer 7', 8 comprises a portion of the path P which is at least a major part of the total length of the outgoing path. A device characterized in that it includes a germicidal lamp 8 emitting germicidal radiation extending over the area. 7. In the device according to claim 6,
Apparatus characterized in that said sterilizing devices 7', 8 both include a sterilizing lamp in the form of an ultraviolet sterilizing lamp 8 and means 7' for spraying hydrogen peroxide into the interior of said carton. 8. In the device according to claim 7,
It includes a top pre-braking device 7 disposed in the starting end region of the outgoing path so as to open the top of the carton C in advance, and the spraying means 7'.
is carried by the top pre-braking device 7. 9. The apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5, further comprising a sterile chamber 6;
devices 3, 3', 6'' for introducing the assembled carton C with its top open into the sterile chamber 6 and taking out the carton C filled with a liquid product from the sterile chamber 6;
Sterilizers 7' and 8 are arranged to sterilize the inside of the carton C while the carton C with its top open is in the sterile room 6, and the dispensing device 21-25 arranged to dispense the liquid product into the carton C while in the chamber and sealing the top of the carton while the carton is in the sterile chamber 6; and a sealing device 11 disposed in the sterile chamber 6, the sterilization chamber 6 comprising a sealing device 11 disposed in the sterile chamber 6, and disposed so as to cause a flow of sterile air into the sterile chamber 6 in a direction from the dosing device 21-25 to the carton entrance 3' of the sterile chamber 6. A device characterized in that it is equipped with air devices 13, 13'. 10 supplying a pressurized liquid product to the expansion chamber 29 and applying additional pressure to the liquid present in the expansion chamber 29 to intermittently supply the liquid product into each predetermined carton; The expansion chamber 29
the volume of the liquid product entering the expansion chamber 29 and the volume of the liquid product entering the expansion chamber 29
and the flow rate of the liquid product exiting the expansion chamber 29 to substantially contact the liquid product completely contacting all of the interior surfaces of the expansion chamber 29. A method characterized by maintaining a constant liquid pressure.